Halo universe to expand with Peter's creativity

One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man -- Elbert Hubbard

Known for his attention to detail, a macabre sense of humour and a general playfulness, the person behind ‘The Lord Of The Ring’ trilogy and the remake of ‘King Kong’, Peter Jackson has joined hands with Microsoft to create a new generation of Xbox technology.

Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console produced by Microsoft, first released on November 15, 2001 in North America. Jackson said with the new collaboration, his team will provide pure entertainment to the audiences, allowing the experience of watching a film and interactive fun.

Peter Jackson is also executive producing the game-to-film adaptation of Microsoft/Bungie's blockbuster title ‘Halo’, expected to hit theaters around mid 2008. Jackson, an avid fan of the game, has confessed of playing it regularly during breaks in filming.

Directed by Neill Blomkamp, ‘Halo’ is an upcoming film based on the video game series of the same name, developed by Bungie Studios. The script for the movie was to be written by Alex Garland, though writer D.B. Weiss, author of ‘Lucky Wander Boy’ is set to rewrite it, using elements of Garland’s draft.

The movie will be developed and released by Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox, under the ingenious supervision of Microsoft.

Early 2007 will witness the filming of the movie in New Zealand. Special effects company Weta Digital and Peter Jackson has used the country's locales in past works, most notably in ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ trilogy.

Peter Jackson will make three games with Microsoft Game Studios, a partnership announced on September 27, 2006. Jackson and partner Fran Walsh, along with Microsoft are teaming together to form a new studio called Wingnut Interactive.

In collaboration with Bungie Studios, Jackson will co-write, co-design and co-produce an entirely new game taking place in the Halo universe, the fictional setting for the video games ‘Halo: Combat Evolved’, ‘Halo 2’, the future game ‘Halo 3’, and the books listed on ‘Halo’ (video game series).

Wingut Interactive, the New Zealand based firm will help to formulate new-fangled dimensions for the Xbox 360 next-generation console.

Through an original ‘Halo’ game, Jackson has decided to dig further into the sci-fi intellectual property. The game will be entirely different from ‘Halo 3’, which Microsoft has already announced for next year.

Jackson said that the untitled game which he has been developing for a year will not go on market shelves before 2008.

Scott Henson, Microsoft spokesman, said that the movie and the game which Jackson is developing will not be tied together, like the game Jackson directed in his 2005 film ‘King Kong’.

"Both the films and the games borrow from the 'Halo' universe," Henson said. "What you're going to see are creative elements that are shared throughout that."

Jackson visions a new period of game technology and says that he wants to push the borders of game development and the prospect of interactive entertainment.

He said that the storytellers can work with same creativity in gaming technology as they work with the movies, and take it more ahead in terms of interactivity.

The innovative Jackson, often described as the new Steven Spielberg of the present times, is now considered to be an important force in the new generation of motion picture directors. His unmatched commercial success has made him the most powerful film directors of the present era.